Driving through the city with Elena in the passenger seat felt strangely domestic. I wasn't accustomed to this kind of shared experience; my life was typically a solitary journey between boardrooms and power plays.
Glancing at Elena, I noticed her staring out the window, seemingly lost in thought. Her profile was striking against the backdrop of the city, her elegance understated yet undeniable.
"Are you nervous?" I asked, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between us.
She turned to look at me, a small smile playing on her lips. "A little. This is all very new to me."
"You'll do great," I reassured her, my tone more gentle than I intended. "Just be yourself."
She chuckled softly. "That's the plan, although 'myself' seems to be evolving by the minute."
We pulled up to the boutique, a high-end establishment known for its exclusivity and exorbitant prices. The kind of place where the rich and powerful came to ensure they looked the part.
